Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-15

fame, lacked UNNECESSARILY the convenience
and comforts with which American ingen-
uity and lavish generosity mitlgated some
what the wretchedness of army hospitals
Lying still becoming uncomfortable, she rose,
in hopes that action might bring some sort of
relief Such plain toilet was made as the
very limited means at her command per-
matted The scant privacy afforded by her
room was another torture, Maiden modesty
suggested Peeping Tom at every yawning
crack in the planking
At last, neatly attired in a serviceable gray
frock, with dainty white collar at her
throat. and her satiny hair brushed smoothly
over her forehead, she opened her door and
stepped out into the main ward room.
A CHEEKY voice behind her said Good morn
ing and she turned to meet DIR. Paul Dens-
low.
Good morning, Miss - he repeated, es
she hesitatei, little dazed.
"Bond-Rachel Bonds my name Good
morning, sir" she answered, putting out her
hand.
As he took ii he said: Il want TO make an
abject apology. We are i'll prepared to en-
terrain a lady here, and no one knew of your
coming. But we certainly intended to miti-
gate in some degree the desolation of the
room to which you We're conducted. l left
you for the purpose of seeing what the store
room contained that would contribute trifie
toward Transforming 1t INTO a malden's
bower
"Clnderella's fairy gosimother couldn't have
mtie the transformation with that ROOM
she said, with little shrug of despair
Probably not-probably not-and lay no
ciain TO even the least of the powers exercised
by the old lady with the wand But allow
no man to surpass me in the matter of good
intentions. That is a luxury of which the
poorest of US can afford an abundance, and
will not deny myself anything that is SO
cheap
Rachel was begriled into smiling at his
merry cynicisln
~Allusions 10 the pavement in the unmen-
tionable place are barred in this connection. +"
he continued gayly ~0n my way TO carry
out these good intentions-at some one else's
expense, remember, all the time-l was called
to the bedside of dying man, and detained
there some time. When | at last returned to
your room, judged that you were fast asleep,
and decided not to disturb YOU"
Il think YOU would have found it difficult
matter to have reused me. had sunk on the
cot, and was sleeping the sleep Of"
THE just" interposed DR.. Denslow, gal
lantly
mo, of the fatigued"
"Well, scientific truth compels me to say
that fatigue is a surer and stronger sedative
than clear conscience even. | know, for
have occasionally tried clear conscience
only by way of experiment, you know" be
added, apologetically.
well, whatever the cause, was sleeping
as though on downy beds of ease"
Then my mind is lightened of mountain
load of responsibility for having made you
pass a miserable night But let's GO into
breakfast. am opposed to doing anything
on an empty stomach-even to holding a
pleasant conversation. f invites malaria,
and malaria brings a number of disagreeable
sensations which people mistake for repent
ance, remoIse, religious awakening. and so
On. according to their mental idiosyncTasies
and the state of their Digestion
The breakfast did not help remove the I'M
pleasant impressions already made upon her
mind The cloth that covered the coarse
planks of the table was Enthusiastically a we'll
worn sheet. Tin cups and platters made
humble substitution for china. and were APP
propriately accompanied b. cast iron knives
and two-tiued forks.
Rachel's appetite had seemed sufficient for
almost any food, but she confined her break
fast to two or three crackers OF hard bread
and few sups of coffee.
As they rose from the table the doctor in
formed her that he and the stewards were
about to make their morning round of the
wards, and that she had better accompany
them. She went along without a word
They walked slowly up and down the long
aisles behind the doctor, who stopped before
each cot, and closely examined its occupants
tongue, pulse and other indicators of his con-
dition, and gave prescriptions which the
steward wrote down, as to medicine and
food. What was better still were his words
Of sympathy for the very i'll and of CHEEKY
encouragement Tor the conyalescent, which
he bestowed upon every enc.
ttaCa.s feaded at each step lest the next
bring her face to face with some horrible
task which she would be expected to under
take. But the doctor, with his usual tact,
was almost imperceptibly inducing her into
her duties.
SWouId Miss Bond kindly shake this
powder into that cup of water and give it to
that boy!s
She did so, and was rewarded by the re-
cipients grateful look as he said:
at don't seem at all nasty when You give
it to me-
"Would she hand that one this bit of mag
nesia for his heartburn
It was young Irishman who received the
magnesia with gallant speech:
'Faith, your white fingers have made it
swater than loaf sugar.
Rachel colored deeply, and those within
hearing laughed
At the next cot q feverish boy tossed
YEARLY. Rachel noticed the uncomfortable
arrangement of the folded blanket which did
duty as pillow. She stepped quickly to the
head Of the cot, took the blanket out, re-
folded it with few deft, womanly motions,
and replaced it with cool surface upper
most.
20, that is so good murmured the boy,
half unclosing his eyes. aIts just as mother
would've done it."
Dr. Denslow looked earnest approval.
Rachel began to feel an interest kindling
In her work It was not in a womanly
nature to resist this cordial appreciation Of
Ill she did.
A few cots farther on a boy wanted q letter
written home She was provided with sta
tionery, and, taking her place by the side Of